Gregg's demand: GOP replacement

The White House is expected to announce New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg as its nominee to be the new Commerce secretary Tuesday morning, amid near certainty that Gregg will be replaced by a Republican, dashing Democratic hopes of obtaining a 60-seat majority.

A source familiar with the discussions between Gregg and the White House said the announcement would come at 11 a.m., a day after Gregg and New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch made clear that Gregg’s exit would not mean a loss for Senate Republicans - at least in the short term.

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“I have made it clear to the Senate leadership on both sides of the aisle and to the governor that I would not leave the Senate if I felt my departure would cause a change in the makeup of the Senate,” the three-term senator said in a statement. “The Senate leadership, both Democratic and Republican, and the governor understand this concern, and I appreciate their consideration of this position.”

Lynch suggested in a coordinated statement that he may fulfill Gregg’s wish.

“If President Obama does nominate Sen. Gregg to serve as commerce secretary, I will name a replacement who will put the people of New Hampshire first and represent New Hampshire effectively in the U.S. Senate,” Lynch said in a statement issued Monday.

A Lynch spokesman declined to elaborate on the statement or specify whether Lynch would appoint a Republican to replace Gregg.

Lynch’s words, though vague, are being seen by New Hampshire political insiders as a signal he’s willing to abide by Gregg’s wishes and install a Republican caretaker in the seat. Bonnie Newman, a former Gregg aide, academic and official in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations, is the top contender to take Gregg’s seat. She did not respond to requests for comment.

Gregg, leaving a Senate vote Monday afternoon, refused to comment on the selection process and whether he'd continue advising GOP leadership once he's nominated. He skipped a weekly GOP leadership meeting Monday, which he typically would have attended.

He told Politico he believed Lynch would nominate a Republican if Gregg goes to the administration.

"He was pretty concise and on-point," Gregg said of Lynch's statement.

Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said his understanding was that Gregg's replacement would be a caretaker and that Democrats would have a good chance at picking up the seat next cycle.

"While it doesn't change the balance of power in the interim, for all intents and purposes, we'll look at it as an open seat because we won't be running against an incumbent," he said. "It's a good thing."

Gregg made no mention of Obama in his statement. But Lynch’s comments appeared to contradict White House press secretary Robert Gibbs’ assertion at his briefing Monday that the White House has not been involved in the New Hampshire appointment or any other Senate appointments.

“I have had conversations with Sen. Gregg, the White House and U.S. Senate leadership,” Lynch said. “Sen. Gregg has said he would not resign his seat in the U.S. Senate if it changed the balance in the Senate. Based on my discussions, it is clear the White House and Senate leadership understand this as well.”

Asked about the contradiction between Gibbs and Lynch, the White House declined to comment.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell made a similar statement Sunday on “Face the Nation,” indicating that Gregg had assured Senate Republicans that his departure would not change the partisan composition of the body.

Democrats on Capitol Hill and in New Hampshire have been mum as the process has unfolded. While they want 60 seats in the Senate, Gregg’s Democratic colleagues know he won’t leave the Senate if Lynch planned to appoint a Democrat. And their chances are far greater to pick up the seat in 2010 if Gregg isn’t running.